Australia Luring U.S. Plumbers, Electricians With Streamlined Worker Immigration Rules

[xchrom]

http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2012/04/06/australia-luring-u-s-plumbers-electricians-with-streamlined-worker-immigration-rules/

As Australia’s skilled worker shortage has begun to inhibit progress on the country’s large mining projects, unions in the land down under are becoming suspicious of the Australian government’s plans to fast-track recognition of American workers in order to hire internationally for short-term employment. The new rules would allow targeting of unemployed, skilled Americans. Plumbers and electricians, specifically, have been discussed as likely to make the move.

This appears to be good news for unemployed Americans seeking work. Their qualifications and legal compliance would be sorted before migration. But Australian unions are naturally concerned with workers’ rights and are demanding that Australia show specific gaps in the workforce to prove they aren’t trying to take advantage of cheaper, short-term labor from abroad:

“This means there is no way unions, government, or the wider community can be confident that employers have made every effort to provide job and training opportunities to Australians before resorting to the use of overseas labor – whether from the US or any other country,” ACTU President, Ged Kearney, said.

The Green Party of Australia agrees that the government should be training more Australians instead of outsourcing. Their sentiments echo those of American unions who view outsourced, migrant labor as driving down wages and affecting employment on the homefront:

”We have many people in Australia with great skills, especially those who have come from places like Africa or Vietnam, yet they’re having trouble finding meaningful work,” said Greens MP Adam Bandt.

[DJ13]

1. "American... cheaper, short-term labor... "

How far we've fallen as a country.

[Kaleva]

2. If I wasn't on full disability, I'd consider it.

Always wanted to go to Australia but given my current situation, I'd either end up dead or fired if I did try.

[Fool Count]

3. In Australia minimum wage is $15 per hour - that's $16 USD.

An average electrician would gross $30 per hour. In a remote mining region he would start
with at least double that and could work for up to 70 hours per week with overtime counting
at 1.5 times regular hourly rate.

[elehhhhna]

4. y'all should see what hydrogeologists make there...

bigttime dough